Not only would such a tax be devastating to thousands of working-class employees and businesses, but in Chicago this has been tried before and had the opposite effect. The city increased taxes on these beverages in 1991, yet obesity rates continued to rise.

There are more than 100,000 employees in Illinois whose livelihood depends on the non-alcoholic beverage industry, which includes 2,000 union jobs. Additionally, thousands of small business owners and their hard-working employees could face layoffs and lost profits should such a tax be implemented.

When it comes to making people healthier, there is no silver bullet. We have to make sure we are balancing the calories we consume with those we expend through physical activity and exercise.

Itís important to keep the calories from soft drinks in perspective. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they make up only 6 percent of calories in the average Americanís diet.

Rather than burdening struggling businesses and working-class employees with higher grocery bills and less income, we should focus on educating people on how to lead a healthy lifestyle and proactive partnerships that will have a meaningful and lasting impact.